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CBRP Not to Blame for Traffic Stop Injury

Feb

11

The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) today released its report regarding an investigation into a July 13, 2015 traffic stop conducted by a member of the Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP) in Sydney.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. that day the CBRP received information that a truck being driven by an unlicenced driver was travelling toward Sydney on the Mira Road. About five minutes later, on George St., the vehicle was spotted by a CBRP police vehicle driven by a regular member accompanied by a cadet. The police pulled in behind the truck with emergency equipment activated. The truck turned right off George St., onto Edgar St, and then right again onto Donna Drive. The speed of both vehicles remained at or under the speed limit. Just before the truck stopped a passenger jumped from the vehicle. He suffered a serious fracture to his lower leg. EHS was immediately called.

The investigation revealed that the truck’s driver had a suspended licence and no insurance. The passenger who jumped was in breach of a court order as he was not supposed to be outside of his home. He was hoping to escape from the police. He gave a statement that acknowledged that he decided on his own to jump from the truck and that the police did nothing wrong.

In these circumstances there were no grounds to consider charges against the CBRP officer. His actions were completely appropriate.

SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian director Ron MacDonald, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.